Papua New Guinea Prime Minister James Marape says there is a "high possibility" the country would not enter a potential conflict involving Australia and China, despite having signed a mutual defence treaty with its southern neighbour.
The Pukpuk treaty is Australia's first new military alliance in more than 70 years, and includes a provision that an armed attack on either country would be considered "dangerous to each other's peace and security".
The two countries have committed to act "to meet the common danger, in accordance with [each other's] constitutional processes".
But Mr Marape has told 7.30 there's a high possibility PNG would sit out such a conflict involving China, and emphasised his country's sovereignty.
"This treaty was constructed within the fullest ambit of respecting sovereignties, and [each country] making their own calls," he told 7.30.
"In a conflict, we don't expect Australia to drop everything and run to us."
Mr Marape said the final decision on whether to enter conflict "rests with respective defence force commanders" in either country.
He also said that, that is there was any future conflict between the United States and China, he would encourage Australia to seek peace before joining in the armed conflict.
"Our relationship with Australia will mean that we sit at a decision-making table, and we will say, look, give peace a go, not war," he said.
He has downplayed the risk of such a conflict with China eventuating.
"I don't necessarily see China as an enemy," Mr Marape said.
"We trade with China, we do business with China, and so there is no need for an alarmist approach in this conversation."
Mr Marape also questioned what military contribution PNG would be able to make if any such conflict were to arise.
"What does PNG have to offer right now?," he said.
"At the moment, our military capacity is not at a space where we are an active participant."
Indonesia-PNG relations
The commitments around mutual defence have also raised questions about Australia's obligations if conflict broke out between PNG and Indonesia.
Mr Marape said the Pukpuk treaty does not compel Australia to assist PNG in the event of conflict on the Indonesian border.
He has emphasised that his country has a "healthy dialogue with Indonesia," and said he was "100 per cent certain Indonesia will not be offended" at his country's decision to sign the treaty.
"They clearly understand where our need is," he said, adding that his government did not discuss the Pukpuk treaty with Indonesia prior to signing it.
"Not at all, it's a matter between PNG and Australia."
While the treaty commits both nations to the interoperability and integration of their defence forces, Mr Marape also said the prospect of the Australian defence force establishing its own bases in PNG is not likely "at this stage."
"It will be PNG troops in PNG, we're building our own PNG defence force," he said.
But he said Australia was among several nations whose defence forces have used facilities in PNG under a range of defence agreements.
"It's just the amplifying of that sort of arrangement," Mr Marape said.
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